Mutant fears over 'mild flu'

Experts say swine flu appears less virulent than the typical seasonal virus, but are still concerned about its future path

The meeting was only short, but it was enough to give Barry Greatorex a dose of swine flu. Ten days ago the 43-year-old project manager for a freight company travelled to Castle Donington in Leicestershire to see a colleague who had returned from a holiday in Mexico.

"I was just in her office and was probably only there for half an hour or so having a conversation with her," Greatorex said yesterday from his home in Chipping Sodbury, Gloucesterhire. "In that period of time I seemed to have contracted it. She had a cough and that's seemingly where I got it."

Last Monday the symptoms began. "The first two or three days were pretty horrible," he said. "Each day was worse, starting with chest pains and then the fever."

Eventually he was put on antiviral drugs and the pain eased. "I have a runny nose now and a bit of